Posted on Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 12:19 p.m.
Squirrel knocks out power for 4,000 customers in Ann Arbor
By Cindy Heflin
A squirrel is to blame for a power outage affecting about 4,000 customers in north Ann Arbor and Ann Arbor Township, DTE Energy spokesman Scott Simons said.
The squirrel got into a substation on Dhu Varren Road in Ann Arbor Township about 10 a.m. today, knocking out two circuits, Simons said.
Workers expect to have the power restored in about 30 minutes, Simons said about 12:10 p.m.
The outage area stretches along Nixon Road from Green Road to north of Pontiac Trail. A smaller area of customers to the east and north of North Main Street is also affected.
Simons said it's likely the squirrel died.
Areas affected by power outage
Comments
CobraII
Tue, Oct 19, 2010 : 10:58 p.m.
We need the city council to launch an investigation to find ways to protect A2 wildlife & to pass a resolution banning DTE from harming wildlife.
Milton Shift
Sat, Oct 16, 2010 : 3:18 p.m.
Something similar happened 10 years ago in my area. I heard the explosion from a mile away. Furry little terrorists.
huh7891
Sat, Oct 16, 2010 : 7:14 a.m.
Michiganpoorboy...you nailed it. And the 37 comments back up your remark........i
KJMClark
Sat, Oct 16, 2010 : 6:57 a.m.
Somewhere in a cave in Afghanistan, they are cheering over their latest success and storing more acorns for training purposes. And the CSI: Ann Arbor team is hard at work right now examining the piece of charcoal that was found at the crime scene...
jameslucas
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 10:47 p.m.
Only dogs are standing between us and squirrel led anarchy. http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/disney-pixar-up-squirrel-scenes/4ad67b950601ce6d75554ad67b950601ce6d7555-198346868235?q=squirrel%20up%20youtube&FORM=VIRE7
Ann English
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 7:57 p.m.
I've run over more rabbits than squirrels, but one squirrel I hit did not just lie there, or scamper off. It could only raise and wave its tail. I don't remember if it was a rat, mouse, rabbit or squirrel that caused a power outage at Washtenaw Community College in 1976, but nothing was said about the animal dying or even being injured. The cause of the outage was something to laugh about.
stevek
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 6:43 p.m.
@David Briegel--You just had to go throw the race card didn't you. I wish all the squirrels could get along...
Laurel Erickson
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 6:24 p.m.
I think this is the first time I have read through all the reader comments on AnnArbor.com and not left feeling just... discouraged. Thank you, brother squirrel. Your sacrifice has brought our community closer together.
Kai Petainen
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 5:49 p.m.
HA... I remember the Sep. '09 incident. This squirrel probably died, but I have to wonder how many squirrels do such things and get (to borrow monty python) "only a minor 'flesh/fur' wound". not to be disgusting... but if they think it was a squirrel, then that means they saw it? eek... creepy.
jameslucas
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 5:42 p.m.
This is getting nutty, I had a suicidal squirrel run in front of my vehicle today, now a suicidal squirrel takes out a transformer, I think something squirrelly is going on.
David Briegel
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 5:23 p.m.
Andy, Autumn is the time for gathering nuts for the long cold winter!
Soothslayer
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 5:17 p.m.
*squirrel Also I believe we are approaching Guiness record territory with the number of times "squirrel" is mentioned and commented on in a proper news article by a bunch of nuts. Please submit to this link to them for consideration.
Soothslayer
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 5:11 p.m.
I don't believe I saw where DTE or the story clarified the "sqirrel" as belonging to the family Sciuridae. Please provide more investigative journalism to determine specifics so that we may rest easy tonight. Wikipedia defines Squirrel: Squirrels are rodents in the family Sciuridae. The word "squirrel" may also refer to: Rodents A subset of the family Sciuridae, for example excluding animals such as marmots and chipmunks, or even limited to tree squirrels. Scaly-tailed squirrels (Anomaluridae), an African group of rodents unrelated to true (Sciuridae) squirrels.
Bones
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 4:51 p.m.
I guess Mr. Simons did not wish to say. One squirrel fried like bacon.
Lokalisierung
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 4:15 p.m.
"Was it a red squirrel, black squirrel or our standard grey squirrel? We need facts!" Causing this much trouble I can only believe it to be a fox Squirrel...the most mischievious of the squirrel family!
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 4:05 p.m.
i think the two colors represent squirrel density... just a guess.
David Briegel
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 3:59 p.m.
Was it a red squirrel, black squirrel or our standard grey squirrel? We need facts!
Salinemary
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 3:02 p.m.
@ Bob Martel: I concur! Very refreshing!
Bob Martel
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 2:21 p.m.
What a refreshing non-political thread!
SillyTree
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 2:10 p.m.
And whose newspaper has an acorn for their symbol. Admit it Ed! Your paper is backed by squirrels. How do we know you are not one of them. This has all the signs of a coup. The first things they go for are the presses(figurative) and the infrastructure.
Brian Bundesen
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 1:45 p.m.
God Bless Peter Smallwood "who has studied squirrels for more than 20 years."
treetowncartel
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 1:29 p.m.
I wonder if a chipmunk is capable of producing this kind of calamity. The outage has cleared? It almost sounds like we are talking about passing a gall stone or something.Thanks for the update Ed.
Andrea
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 1:24 p.m.
Has anybody asked Homeland Security if this was possibly a squirrel terrorist attack?
SillyTree
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 12:51 p.m.
Why is one area on the map red and the other one orange? I thought it might be to show they were in different locations, but the fact that they are in different locations shows that. Any ideas?
EstherASquirrel
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 12:44 p.m.
Why is DTE trying to launch an anti-squirrel campaign? WHY?!
peg dash fab
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 12:41 p.m.
don't be so sure that the squirrel died haven't you ever run over a squirrel, heard a thump thump thump under the floor boards, then watched in the rear view mirror as the rodent rises from the road and scampers away? squirrels have scary powers.
SillyTree
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 12:39 p.m.
@Rizzle Oh, was that Bitey? I remember when my whole monorail system went out because of that family of squirrels (or was it possums?) Anyhoo, Squirrel knocks out power; power knocks out squirrel. I am curious though. How did they know it was a squirrel? Was it the dreaded squirrel chew? I mean, if they saw the squirrel, they would know it was dead. What was the evidence? Are they waiting on a scatology report. Were there identifying paw prints..bite marks..what? Is this because the squirrels have been doing such agressive panhandling on campus?
Elaine F. Owsley
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 12:24 p.m.
Some years ago we had a rash of suicidal squirrels throwing themselves into transformers and killing themselves and power to various parts of Scio Township near Dexter. Some of us were suspicious that it was more a problem of old equipment than young, dumb squirrels. Whatever - the problem went away, whether because the equipment was updated or the squirrels listened to their mothers tails of what happened to cousin Nutsy.
Rizzle
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 12:21 p.m.
I knew that squirrel and her family. I called the big one "bitey"
Cash
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 12:17 p.m.
Hmmmmm, they used that excuse here a few weeks ago. That must be the Official Excuse of the Month, October's DTE Excuse...........Squirrel in the substation.
michiganpoorboy
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 12:09 p.m.
So many nuts in AA so few Squirrels.
Brian M.
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 11:59 a.m.
That squirrel got me the day off of work. Thanks little buddy! May you have infinite nuts in heaven, or something.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 11:50 a.m.
the south district of ypsilanti township had the power knocked out for thousands by a squirrel back summer of 2009. we didn't get near the coverage this is getting.
stevek
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 11:48 a.m.
We need the facts. How old was the squirrel? Was it male or female?
Guinea Pig in a Tophat
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 11:47 a.m.
Behold the power of a single squirrel! We can only hope that the squirrels do not band together. I cannot imagine the chaos and wackiness that would ensue.
Lokalisierung
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 11:38 a.m.
Hmmm...the timing of this is a little suspicious. This is obviously political.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Oct 15, 2010 : 11:33 a.m.
"Simons said it's likely the squirrel died." Pictures otherwise it's just speculation!